We are proud to introduce the first of our State Skatepark Indexes. The information that follows is the result of hard work, loads of phone calls, tons of emails, and dozens of tanks of gas. We trust that you will find this information helpful in your local skatepark planning.

If you enjoy this report, please consider a donation of time or money to SPS. We would love to have more volunteers to help with other state indexes. I think that after you see what this reveals about skateparks in Texas, it will be clear why we need one for every state, (or province). Together we will be able to produce a new state or province report on a regular basis.

2011 Texas Skatepark Index

Overview

Texas is a great state for skateparks. With its high youth population and dry weather, skateparks are being built in unprecedented numbers.

Texas has 180 public skateparks spread across 133 communities for a total of 1,561,850 square feet, (about 36 acres), of skateboarding terrain.

Texas is the second-most populated state in the Union with 24,782,000 residents, 6,889,000 (27.8%) of those are 18 years old or younger. The youth population of Texas is 3% higher than the national average.*

By national averages there are approximately 71,800 skaters in Texas, 23,700 of whom skate frequently.**

Two-thirds of all Texans live in one of the state’s major metropolitan areas.

Five largest metropolitan areas in Texas (by population):

Dallas-Fort Worth (6,300,000)

Houston (5,700,000)

San Antonio (2,000,000)

Austin (1,600,000)

El Paso (740,000)

Most of Texas’ largest cities have embraced skateparks as a valuable community asset as shown by the amount of skatepark square footage. Note that these totals do not account for skateparks in nearby incorporated towns and suburbs:

Houston (100,500 sq ft)

El Paso (95,165)

San Antonio (70,200 sq ft)

Austin (17,000 sq ft)

Dallas-Fort Worth (7,000 sq ft)

The Texas cities with the most skateboarding terrrain, (e.g., the sum of all the skateparks within city limits), are:

Houston (100,500 sq ft)

El Paso (95,100 sq ft)

The Woodlands (72,000)

San Antonio (70,200)

Laredo (43,000)

The five largest skateparks in Texas:

Allen, The Edge at Allen Station Park (37,915 sq ft)

Lewisville, Railroad Park (33,000 sq ft)

Houston, Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark (30,000 sq ft)

Denton, Skate Works (25,500 sq ft)

El Paso, Carolina Skatepark (23,143 sq ft)

*Source: U.S. Census
**Source: American Sports Data

Texas Skateparks By Year

Skatepark Material In Texas

Like many states, Texas struggles with an abundance of steel and wood skateparks, (collectively known as prefab). These materials have demonstrated a pattern of failure and the move to concrete in Texas has steadily improving.